Seneca Scott Alleges CCP Orchestrates "5th Generation Warfare" in "Progressive" US Cities

Political activist and former Oakland mayoral candidate Seneca Scott recently claimed that "progressive" cities are intentionally being undermined by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as part of a "5th generation warfare" strategy. In a social media post, Scott asserted that the decline observed in these cities is a deliberate agenda to "Destroy America from the inside," emphasizing that he and his associates "can and we often do prove it." The provocative statement has drawn attention to the ongoing debate surrounding urban governance and foreign influence.

Scott is widely recognized for his conservative and libertarian viewpoints, frequently voicing strong criticisms of progressive policies. As a former candidate for mayor of Oakland, California, he has consistently attributed issues such as rising crime rates, homelessness, and economic challenges in urban centers to what he describes as "failed progressive policies." His public commentary often targets local government actions and advocates for alternative approaches to city management.

In his recent tweet, Scott escalated his critique by stating, > "All “progressive” ran cities end up looking like this because that’s their real agenda: Destroy America from the inside." He directly linked this perceived decline to the CCP, asserting, > "They all work for the CCP, and no, this is not hyperbole, we can and we often do prove it." Scott further characterized these developments as > "This is 5th generation warfare, or “low intensity conflict”," suggesting a sophisticated, non-conventional form of aggression.

"Fifth-generation warfare" (5GW) is a military concept describing conflicts that involve non-state actors, information manipulation, cyber-attacks, and psychological operations, often below the threshold of conventional armed conflict. Similarly, "low-intensity conflict" (LIC) refers to the selective and restrained use of military or paramilitary force to achieve political, social, economic, or psychological objectives, often relying on non-military tools. Experts note that applying these terms to domestic political disagreements can serve as a rhetorical device to frame political opponents as existential threats.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regularly warns about foreign adversaries attempting to influence U.S. public opinion and political processes through disinformation, specific allegations of the Chinese Communist Party directly orchestrating the "destruction" of U.S. cities through local progressive policies lack credible substantiation from intelligence agencies or mainstream journalistic investigations. Fact-checking organizations have indicated that such claims often appear within broader conspiracy theories related to foreign interference and domestic policy failures. Scott's assertions contribute to a contentious political discourse surrounding urban challenges and the nature of geopolitical influence.